In the wake of recent support-staff reductions at Duane Morris, K&L Gates and other large firms, consultants and recruiters said more of these types of cuts are expected as firms seek to increase profits and shifts in technology gradually phase out the need for traditional clerical functions.

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What's being said

Shame on Jeff Coburn for referring to "the ratio of professionals to nonprofesionals." Referring to support staff as nonprofessionals was completely offensive. I have been a legal secretary for 25 years and I can assure you I am a professional in every sense of the word. I have worked with attorneys ranging from the most senior to fresh out of law school and the ones that are the most productive are those that utilize the experience we "nonprofessionals" have to offer.

Jay Foonberg

Oct 09, 2013

Perhaps the dumping of associates and partners who don't produce enough profits is in part a result of treating law as a business rather than a profession. For "better or worse, through good times and bad is now": "as long as I can make an immediate dollar from you." I am increasingly seeing senior lawyers who are a step away from being bag ladies and bag men. The pressure on senior lawyers to grind out work as they live longer and work longer is also causing a serious reduction in the job opportunities for young lawyers.

For 50 years I have been preaching that the lawyer with a following of loyal clients need never fear being dumped by those who want the lawyers clients and fees.

We as a profession are simply paying the price of the greed of those who look upon the practice of law as only a way to make money . In many cases those who treated law as only a business are simply becoming the victims of their own greed.